ROYALS SWEPT BY ROCKETS - Junior Hockey News

Victoria, BC -In a Saturday night contest at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals took on the Kelowna Rockets in the second annual Canadian Forces Appreciation Night. The Royals started Patrik Polivka in net, while the Rockets countered with Jordon Cooke.

Kelowna picked up where they left off the previous night and opened the game with two quick powerplay goals. The first came off the stick of Colton Sissons at 3:37 when he deposited a rebound in the Royals' crease, while Tyson Baillie convertedKelowna's second with a shot from the high slot at 5:11. Cody Fowlie then pushed the Rockets lead to 3-0 just 20 seconds later off of a shot from the left face-off circle that beat Polivka high glove side. That signaled the end of the night for Polivka as Coleman Vollrath took over in the Royals' net. Jack Walker scored at 14:42 to stem the tide and get Victoria on the board. Logan Fisher collected his own rebound and slid the puck to Walker who was posted to the right of Cooke. The rookie defenceman snapped the puck past a sprawling Kelowna netminder to record his fifth of the season. The home team had chances to draw even closer in the late stages of the opening period, but after 20 minutes of play the Rockets held a 3-1 lead.

The Royals closed the gap to one at 8:12 off of a powerplay marker from Jordan Fransoo. Forward Steven Hodges held the puck on the right boards before he fired a cross-ice pass that Fransoo one-timed into an open cage. Victoria's comeback was shortlived, however, as Jesse Lees regained the Rockets two-goal lead at the 10:35 mark. Fowlie would later score his second of the night at 17:29 and Kelownacarried a 5-2 lead into the second intermission.

The Royals were unable to mount a comeback early in the final frame and Tyrell Goulbourne gave the Rockets a commanding 6-2 lead with a shorthanded goal at 13:12 of the third period. MacKenzie Johnston added one more goal at 16:51 to seal the victory for the visitors. Kelowna 7 Victoria 2.

Victoria went 1/5=20.0% on the powerplay, while Kelowna went 3/7=42.9%. The Rockets outshot the Royals 37-28.

Victoria will now look ahead to hosting the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday, February 27th for Telus Night. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

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